Messages

46

Canon General / Re: Authorized and unauthorized dealers

« on: December 09, 2012, 01:01:46 AM »

New from Canon Price Watch:

http://www.canonpricewatch.com/product/00047/Canon-EF-24-105mm-f4L-IS-USM-price.html

The results of our warranty poll! We received 27 responses covering all three Canon US repair centers.
US Model Cameras and Lenses bought from unauthorized dealers are eligible for warranty repair service. We had no reported incidents of US items from unauthorized dealers being rejected for service.

Please note that this is just our data and observations, and the official policy of Canon Inc. may be subject to change, but for now we believe that US model items are eligible for warranty service, regardless of dealer status. We have changed the marking on these dealers as "Canon USA Warranty" in our listings.

47

Lenses / Re: Canon 100mm f/2.0 for portraits

« on: December 07, 2012, 05:05:59 PM »

My 100mm wasn't too useful on my 5D classic due to the lack of microfocus adjust and generally poor focus accuracy.  But on my 5D Mark III it is quite delightful!  Great for portraits, but you will probably want to use a tripod or monopod.

48

Lenses / Re: EF 40mm STM Pancake Problem Acknowledged

« on: November 30, 2012, 12:00:19 AM »

I was intrigued by the data that Roger Cicala posted at LensRentals.com.  He says that the 40 pancake is one of the new batch of Canon lenses that have a more accurate autofocus system which can be used to good advantage by the 5D III and 1Dx.  Since they are now going for only $149 I decided it would be an inexpensive way to check out the advantages of the new technology.  Got it a couple of days ago.

I immediately started putting it through my usual focus tests to see if it needed some MFA and just how consistently it focused.  (MFA is not very helpful if a lens does not focus consistently.)

With the lens on my 5D3, I found that it back focused about one foot at ten feet.  I call that 10% back focus.  However, about one shot in five was significantly front focused, maybe 5%.   I changed my working distance and the focus error changed.  Grrrr....

I tried adding some MFA, but the point of final focus was too inconsistent for me to want to use the lens wide open.

I'm sending it back for another copy.  Will keep you posted on the next one.

All of my other lenses work great on the 5D3.  This is the first reject.  Too bad, cause it's a cute lens.

49

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma 35 f/1.4 DG HSM First Impressions

« on: November 26, 2012, 07:52:15 PM »

First thing I did when I got the lens was cover up that cheap, unsightly gold ring with some model-makers pinstripping tape!!!!

LOL, that's a great idea.  I'll have to get some for all of my lenses!  Red tape of course.  Much cheaper than buying L - lenses.  I'll just tell my friends that they are the new lightweight L lenses.

50

EOS Bodies / Re: canon 1d mark iii 21.1 mp or the 5d mark ii

« on: November 24, 2012, 03:01:38 PM »

I suggest the 5D3 as a companion to your 7D.  I have both and I can switch between them without any issues.

I picked up a used 1Ds II almost two years ago and hated it, because of the weight and the unfamiliar controls.  Sold it after two months.  I'm a studio photographer, not a combat photographer, so my cameras don't need to be built like a tank.

51

EOS Bodies / Re: Eye Fi and 5D Mk iii

« on: November 24, 2012, 02:48:30 PM »

Got the latest and biggest Eye-Fi card yesterday and spent about an hour getting the eye-fi card, my 5D 3 and my I-Pad 3 to talk to each other.

I was under the impression that when a photo was transferred to the I-Pad that it would immediately be displayed in full screen mode.   Unfortunately there is a problem that keeps this from working with IOS 6 on the I-Pad.

In the Eye-Fi forums, people have been compaining about this for many weeks but all they get are apologies from the Eye-Fi customer service people.

I can still view the photos manually by pressing the arrow buttons to page through the saved images on the I-Pad, so it isn't a complete failure.

Would advise anyone interested in the Eye-Fi system to go to their forums and see what people are complaining about.

52

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Powershot S100 for $229

« on: November 23, 2012, 09:44:24 AM »

My old S90 is still going strong.  I now keep it in my car or in my motorcycle tank bag for unexpected photo ops.  The relatively small sensor does not have quite the dynamic range of my DSLRs so I try to choose my shots carefully.  If you stay within the camera's comfort zone, the shots come out very nice.

One thing to remember about these little RAW-shooting cameras is that their lenses cause terrible distortion at the wide end.  If you shoot JPG the digic processor removes the distortion, but if you shoot RAW you will have to remove it with your software.

53

Pricewatch Deals / Refurbished Deals at Canon - 7D, 5D2 and more

« on: November 22, 2012, 05:55:29 PM »

http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/subCategory_10051_10051_-1_109758#

5D Mark II for $1319
7D for $959

Probably just for a few days.  Get em if you want em!

54

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D MARK III with 50 mm f/1.2 performence

« on: November 20, 2012, 08:24:55 AM »

I would suggest renting one.  LensRentals.com has reduced prices this week.

I have found that my 5D III makes all my lenses perform better than they did before due to the more accurate and consistent autofocus compared to my 5D classic.  Many of the bad lens reviews you find on the net are due to poor performance of the camera body used.

55

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Has anyone ordered from DigitalRev?

« on: November 19, 2012, 08:09:45 PM »

Thanks for the input guys.  I think you are both correct.  I'll probably buy one locally when I'm ready. 

56

Third Party Manufacturers / Has anyone ordered from DigitalRev?

« on: November 18, 2012, 12:26:20 PM »

http://www.digitalrev.com/product/tamron-sp-24-70mm-f/MTAwMDMyMw_A_A?googlebase=1&country=US&gclid=CNXIhcOC2bMCFal_QgodLF0AWQ

I'm pretty sure I am going to buy the Tamron 24-70 for use with my 5D3.  Prices at various outlets are always exactly $1299.  Tamron apparently enforces their standard price quite effectively!

I am not familiar with DigitalRev.  They have good feedback on Google, but one review indicates that the products are shipped from Hong Kong.  I am also concerned about the manufacturers warranty.  At the link above I note a tiny american flag and the words "local warranty" but that doesn't really tell me what I want to hear.

Would like to hear opinions on ordering from DigitalRev.

Thanks!

57

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8

« on: November 15, 2012, 01:02:54 PM »

One negative thing about both the 85 and 100 USM lenses is the chromatic aberration.  You can see it in this focus testing shot with the 85 wide open.  The 100 is exactly the same.  The squares are each one inch and I think I was about 8 feet away from the focus target which is the black horizontal band.  You can see the purple fringing in front of the focus point.

The target is a cardboard 6 foot x 3 foot sewing layout mat that I place on the floor of my studio.  I use the studio strobes to eliminate camera movement.  I focus on the black band which is simply a piece of friction tape.  If I'm doing Micro Focus Adjust, I'll use a tripod. 

It is super-easy to find out where your lens has focused and if you take the time to line everything up precisely you can find problems like tilted lens elements that cause zones of blur.

I've had a lot of luck with this inexpensive system.  I like it better than the popular focus testing units where the target is only a short distance from the lens.  With this big target I can test at real life shooting distances.

Does the chromatic aberration affect my use of the 85 and 100 lenses?  No, not at all.  It goes away if you stop down one stop.  Also, the zone where you get the purple fringing is in front of your subject.  What is usually in front of your subject?  Air.  So there is nothing there to be aberrated, so to speak.

BTW, both the 85 and 100 needed zero MFA. 

58

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8

« on: November 15, 2012, 12:43:27 PM »

I've had an 85 1.8 and a 100 f 2.0 for a while, but found them of limited use on my 5D classic due to the erratic autofocus system on that body.  I recently got a 5D Mark III and it has transformed these lenses into useful portrait tools due to the much more accurate autofocus. 

I'm still getting a feel for how these lenses work on the new body.

Here is a shot I took while walking around in Portland a few days ago with the 85 mm at 1/320, f 2.8, ISO 12,500.  I cropped it about 15% in width and height.  I brightened up the colors and contrast a bit with Lightroom, since it was shot under a bridge in very low light.

59

Lenses / Re: How long do you think the 24-70 2.8 Mk 2 will remain over 2300.00?

« on: November 14, 2012, 01:46:09 PM »

Just got a note from Adorama that they will sell me one for 2249 USD.  They can't advertise that price, but apparently they are finding ways to let people know that they are offering a discount. 

Looks like Canon has a difficult job trying to maintain their high prices on the new crop of products.  Personally I will wait to see if the price falls below 2,000 by the end of the year.  If not I will probably buy the stabilized Tamron competitor.  The Tamron is not as sturdy, but I treat my lenses very gently.

60

Lenses / Re: Need some advise: light sensitive lens indoors

« on: November 10, 2012, 06:24:53 PM »

What exactly is a "light sensitive" lens?  I don't think I've seen that term in this context before.